Shocks and springs or coilovers

[Brighouse-gti]

At the minute Ive got coilovers on the car. They've been on for nearly 6 years so they've had a good innings, but the backs are failing, and just generally there looking worn and tatty all round. The car currently has a drop of around 53mm from stock (8v GTI), which is kind of the advantage of coilovers, you can drop it to exactly where you want. However I'm pondering weather to just buy a new set of shocks and lowering springs, the advantage being you put them on and thats it. No jacking up and down and up down and adjusting till you get the ride height the same all round. Boom, on, done, jobs a good un!

I'm wanting to hear what you guys n gals are running around on, recommendations or avoids. Also the coilovers that are on at the min are a hard ride!! The roads in the UK are just s**t and there's pot holes everywhere, but they feel like craters to my current setup. Has anyone found a good compromise, a nice low ride with a nice happy medium not too hard not too soft feel to the drive!

Another thing to consider is the price, I aren't paying silly money for a set of say KW coilovers, I'd rather take the family on holiday!! Poor mans budget is to take into consideration!!

Sooooooooooo, coilovers or shocks n springs???

[lemski]

Depends where you want it to sit. Ive always had coilovers on golfs but now I dont have the car on the ground.
I could get shocks and springs and it would sit the same and be comfortable over English roads.

Budget wise, I think cheap is going to feel stiffer.
You could get new standard shocks and some koni springs. But might not sit where you want it.

As set of coilovers you can measure your old ones and get them nearly bang on where you want it

[Waspy]

I love this discussion because it's so personal. I bought my car on coilovers and it has never handled as well as it did back then. It was so planted. HOWEVER, the ride was aweful. Pretty sure I cause long term damage to my passengers spine. It should be noted I don't know the brand of coilovers that were on, the could have been cheap crap.

So I moved to springs and shocks. I went OEM shocks with Eibach -30mm progressive springs. This height eliminates arch gap without the wheel looking "tucked". Which is exactly how I wanted it. The ride is so much better now. The only draw back is the it isn't quite so sure in the corners as it used to be. It should be noted that it is still better than any modern cars I have driven though 

EDIT: Should have mentioned, it's on 15inch RAs with 195/50 profile tyres, not spaced (currently) and no arch modifications.

[Brighouse-gti]

Mine is sat on 205/60/13 starmags, ET0 with 5mm spacers all round. They too sit just under the arch without that tucked look, and hence the 53mm drop, 13" rims. Maybe I'm getting old, or maybe I just don't want to think that my doors and bumpers are going to simultaniously drop off the next time I drive over a pebble because the suspension is that hard. Yes good for the corners, but bad for spine and mentality! Yep it must age related! I just need that happy medium!!